In accordance with the HRP, the Government of Ethiopia’s (GoE) National Disaster Risk Management Commission (NDRMC) and the Humanitarian Coordinator estimates that a total of 8.86 million people will need humanitarian assistance throughout the country.

Furthermore, Ethiopia continues to be the second largest refugee-hosting country in Africa. It is projected that Ethiopia will host 860,000 refugees by the end of 2020, mostly from South Sudan, Eritrea and Somalia. Transportation of newly arrived refugees from border entry points remains critical, as well as the provision of shelter, WASH and livelihood support. (IOM - International Organization for Migration SLO Ethiopia)

(The Washington Post) — Ethiopian Airlines officials on Friday disputed Federal Aviation Administration chief Daniel Elwell’s claim that the airline’s failure to “adhere” to emergency procedures issued by the safety agency following the October crash of an Indonesian airliner contributed to the crash of their Boeing 737 Max five months later.

The airline said that although its pilots followed the procedures set out by the FAA and Boeing, “none of the expected warnings appeared in the cockpit, which deprived the pilots of necessary and timely information on the critical phase” of the six-minute flight.

Investigators say faulty information from an external sensor led an automated safety feature, known as the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System, or MCAS, to repeatedly force the plane’s nose down before the plane crashed in a field, killing all 157 people on board.

Under congressional questioning Wednesday, Elwell said the Ethiopian pilots, unlike the pilots in Indonesia, turned off the motors controlling the stabilizer that was forcing the airplane downward because of the MCAS problem. But Elwell said the Ethiopian pilots failed to control the plane’s speed and then, “about a minute before the end of the flight,” turned the motors back on. “Both of those things are unfortunate, obviously,” Elwell said.

Turning the motors back on allowed the MCAS system to push the plane downward again.

Elwell, a former American Airlines pilot, noted that he had “never looked at an accident where there weren’t three or four or five links in the chain, any one of which, if it hadn’t gone wrong, the plane would have survived.”

But Ethiopian Airlines, in a statement crafted with the help of the airline’s chief pilot, told The Washington Post that the claims were being made to “divert public attention” from problems with the flight control system.

The airline pointed to a host of problems with the jet as well as a lack of key training tools from Boeing.

The statement noted that Ethiopian Airlines was one of only a small number of airlines around the world that bought a full flight simulator for the 737 Max 8, which allowed pilots to become familiar with the system.

“However, it’s very unfortunate that the B737 Max 8 simulator was not configured to simulate the MCAS operation by the aircraft manufacturer,” the airline said.

The airline said it was a “major failure” that the MCAS feature was “designed to be automatically activated by a single source of information,” an external sensor known as an angle-of-attack vane.

Boeing this week said it has completed a software fix that will make the MCAS rely on two external sensors. The fix will also reduce the strength of the automated feature so it cannot overpower pilots. The company has also acknowledged that a cockpit indicator on Max jets, known as an “angle of attack” disagree alert, didn’t work on most planes because of a software problem.

The Ethiopian Airlines official noted that MCAS, which was meant to prevent stalling, was “not known by airlines and pilots until after the Lion Air accident,” which left 189 people dead in Indonesia under similar circumstances.

Elwell came under sharp questioning Wednesday over how the agency and Boeing had certified the plane as safe. The FAA has also been criticized for not requiring a clear description of the automated MCAS feature in documentation for pilots.

House Transportation Committee Chairman Peter A. DeFazio (D-Ore.) cited a Boeing engineer who was taped during a November meeting with a pilots’ union saying MCAS might be seen just once in a million miles, and that “we try not to overload the crews with information that’s unnecessary.”

“Do we really think that was unnecessary? It wasn’t in the manual, and they didn’t even know about it,” DeFazio told Elwell.

On Friday, an FAA spokesman declined to describe which FAA emergency procedures Elwell said the Ethiopian pilots had not followed.

The procedures called on pilots facing problems controlling the airplane in such circumstances to “disengage autopilot” and use to electric stabilizer motors, if necessary, to set a smooth course for the plane before turning off the automated system.

“We express our sincerest condolences to the victims, the crew, and their families,″ the FAA spokesman said.

Boeing said it could not comment on an ongoing accident investigation.

Refugees International released the following statement in response to renewed efforts by the government of Ethiopia to forcibly return internally displaced people in the country’s south:

Last year, in southern Ethiopia, intercommunal violence caused hundreds of thousands of people to flee their homes. Refugees International (RI) is deeply alarmed by the Ethiopian government’s renewed effort to carry out forced returns of these internally displaced people (IDPs).

“The government’s actions are making an ongoing humanitarian crisis even worse,” said RI Senior Advocate Mark Yarnell, who traveled to southern Ethiopia in September 2018. “I met displaced people who described horrific levels violence, including entire villages burned to the ground. The government pushing people to return to their home communities prematurely will only add to the ongoing suffering.”

Refugees International’s September mission to the affected area showed that government officials were coercing premature returns by restricting the delivery of assistance in IDP camps and telling displaced people they would receive assistance only if they returned home, even though many home areas remained insecure and damaged by the violence. IDPs who did return often ended up living in crowded secondary displacement sites near their destroyed homes. Renewed violence in December forced some to again flee for their lives.

However, last month, in an ostensibly positive development, the federal government presented a draft IDP Strategic Plan to ensure that any returns or relocations would be “voluntary, safe, dignified, and sustainable.” Furthermore, officials said they would learn from the problems of earlier return efforts.

Unfortunately, recent reporting demonstrates that the government is again coercing people to return—this time by demolishing existing sites, specifically in Gedeo zone, and leaving IDPs with no other options.

“This is in no way voluntary and a major breach of basic rights,” said Yarnell. “The irony is that the Ethiopian government has been receiving international praise—deservedly so—for its increasingly progressive policies toward refugees, including promoting their right to work and access national services. But the way it’s treating its own displaced citizens is not only shameful, it’s inhumane.”

Refugees International urges the government to pause the current return effort until its Strategic Plan can be carried out in a manner that is truly voluntary, sustainable, and in collaboration with displaced people themselves.

Localized hostilities between the Ethiopian Defense Forces (EDF) and Unidentified Armed Groups (UAGs) as well as between different ethnic groups along regional boundary areas continue to hamper consistent humanitarian access.

Most access incidents reported by partners in April are related to armed clashes, localized insecurity, and intercommunal conflict, whereby pocket areas of inaccessibility can affect thousands of people in need.

The National Flood Taskforce issued a flood alert in belg-receiving areas of the country and river flows caused by highland rains. Over 5,600 people were displaced by floods in Selti woreda, Selte zone (SNNP region). Physical access was also impeded in Somali region as a result of poor road conditions and seasonal rivers becoming impassable, particularly in Dollo Ado road to Liban zone.

Humanitarian partners in Ethiopia are not a target. However, this could change as frustration is growing among the affected population given the scale of the needs and the challenges in the response.

Partners need to allocate appropriate resources in communicating with communities and ensuring their activities are adhered to the humanitarian principles of operational independence, neutrality and impartiality.

SITUATION OVERVIEW

Afar region

On 9 March, four national staff of an INGO were detained in Afar region while conducting a humanitarian programme, allegedly for entering the region without permission. The humanitarian community remains concerned over their wellbeing, after such a prolonged period of time.

Amhara region

The operating environment was compromised in various parts of the region due to hostilities between ethnic groups and Amhara Special police. In Kemise Special Oromo woreda, fighting between ethnic Oromos and Amhara Special Police Forces led to casualties, and the blockage of the road between Addis Ababa and Bahir Dar. In the Eastern part of the region, violence was registered in Ataye, Majete and Kara Kore towns, prompting the deployment of the EDF. In Western Gonder zone, tension between ethnic Amhara and Qemants remain. Almost all IDP sites in Central and Western Gonder zones are accessible, however, security concerns remain in remote sites in Metema, Quara, Jawi, Pawe and Minjar Shenkora woredas. There is a reported lack of operational partners in West Gondar zone.

Benishangul Gumuz region (BGR)

Access to Kemashi zone remains heavily restricted due to ongoing hostilities in neighboring West Wollega (Oromia region), as the main road access to Kemashi goes through West Wollega (Nekemte – Gimbi – Nejo road towards Assossa). Overall, the UN and most partners have not been able to access Kemashi zone for the last eight months. Meanwhile, some attacks against Oromo IDPs returning from the Wollegas to Kemashi have been reported in border areas, including the looting of cattle. At the time of writing, Kemashi zone remains inaccessible by road from West Wollega, limiting critical assistance and protection monitoring activities, against a backdrop of Government supported returns to the zone.

From 25 – 30 April, conflict between two individuals sparked communal clashes between ethnic Amharas and Gumuz in Metekel zone leading to a number of casualties. This was followed by retaliatory attacks, leading to dozens of deaths and houses burned in Jawi woreda of Awi zone, Amhara region. The deployment of the EDF calmed the situation. Over 3,000 people were displaced in Jawi and Pawe woredas. As of end April, UN and NGO movements in the affected areas were suspended. Tensions remain extremely high, amid conflicting reports of casualties, while partners are mobilizing to respond.

East and West Wollega (Oromia region)

In East Wollega, since 1 March, Zonal Authorities had impeded shelter interventions in IDP sites, allegedly to discourage IDPs from remaining, until a solution was locally negotiated by mid-April. Lastly, in Nekemte town, where most partners operating in the region are based, there has been a range of attacks with hand grenade by UAGs in the last two months. These attacks have created a number of casualties, none among humanitarian personnel.

Aid operations in West Wollega are intermittently restricted by ongoing hostilities between the EDF and UAG, with clashes taking place in a number of woredas, i.e. Begi, Bogi Dirmegi, Nejo, Leta Sibu, Kiltu Kara, Mana Sibu and Lalo Asabi. The situation remains unpredictable. Furthermore, there is limited partner presence with reduced capacities, including in sectoral coordination. The situation in most IDP sites is reportedly dire, with gaps in all sectors and assistance below international standards.

Gambela region

The overall security situation in Gambella region has worsened and remains unstable. Several incidents have been reported between Nuer and Agnuak ethnic groups that contributed to a high level of anxiety and suspicion between communities. Security forces continue attempting to contain the escalation, mainly associated with revenge killings. In April, three refuges lost their lives allegedly linked to tribal/ clan conflict, and one aid worker was killed in his private residence in Gambella town. The motives behind the killing remain unknown. At the end of April, aid agencies temporarily suspended operations and movements between refugee camps as a precautionary measure, without affecting the delivery of critical services to the refugees.

Local pharmaceutical manufacturers have reportedly performed poorly over the past nine months, according the Ethiopian pharmaceutical supply agency (EPSA).

Presenting the nine months performance report to the Women, Youth and Social Affairs Standing Committee of the House of People's Representatives on Wednesday, the Agency's Director General Dr. Loko Abrham said the Local pharmaceutical manufacturers were able to attain only 33 percent of the their set target during the stated period.

Dr Loko attributed the low performance to minimal attention of the government to the sector and poor budget and institutional capacities.

"The local pharmaceutical manufacturers have had critical dollar shortage as the government did not provide them with foreign currency for more than a year and the surge in the price of raw materials in the international market following the devaluation as the reasons behind their inability to supply pharmaceuticals in line with the quoted price in their contract with the agency have badly affected their performance, the director general told the MPs.

Ethiopian Pharmaceutical Supply Agency (EPSA), is the legal entity established under the law of Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia Government to overcome the problems in this industry and assure uninterrupted supply of pharmaceuticals to the public at an affordable price. The Pharmaceuticals Fund and Supply Agency was established in September 2007 by Proclamation No. 553/2007 as part of Pharmaceutical Logistic Master Plan implementation

According to the director general, the national bank of Ethiopia rather favors pharmaceuticals importers rather than local manufacturers through the provision of foreign currency even though The governer of the national bank is board member of the agency.

During the regural session of the parliament, members of the Women, Youth and Social Affairs Standing Committee commented that they have observed shortage of medicines in public health institutions, requiring prompt solutions.

The MPs, in their feild visit, also noticed that up to 400 containers loaded with pharmaceuticals were held at Modjo Dry Port left there to spoil.

Dr. Loko said the agency is forced to buy the pharmaceuticals products from those private companies which are privileged to get forreign currency exchanges and distribute them to the health institutions and drug stores.

Public health institutions still prefer to buy from private distributors, the director general added.

The Agency was urged to support the local manufacturers, boost their capacity to manufacture and supply the pharmaceuticals in the coming months through solving the foreign currency problem soon.

Going forward, local manufacturers were also urged to focus on pharmaceuticals with high demand in the society and bolster cooperation among themselves.